All is well....

Posted by Lynnette

We continue to marvel at the progress Paul is making. If you can believe it, he is off the respirator and has been talking and joking like his old self between periods of rest. We are still in shock! He still has several indwelling lines, chest tubes, drains, and lots of medications but all the equipment and bandages seem invincible when you see his great smile.

We sense a great deal of energy from Paul that is anxious to come out when his body is able to comply. The anticipation of the great things that we will see from him in the future with this new found energy is exciting. We are all just awestruck at the steps he is making towards recovery.

What a gift from God this has been, as the miracles continue to come. And what a gift from a selfless family this has provided for us. We are deeply overcome with love for them and their sacrifice as we see the new heart beating in Paul's chest under his skin.

Please continue to pray for a smooth recovery as we still have obstacles to overcome. Again, we thank you all so much for the love you have extended to us.

As we read a few of your comments to Paul earlier while he was still on the ventilator, he was so overcome with emotion that it was difficult for him. We treasure all the comments, well wishes, and prayers you continue to send our way. We are richly blessed.

The long awaited post!

Posted by Lynnette Cardall

Hello to all our much loved friends. This is Paul's wife Lynnette posting from Paul's ICU room. We are deeply grateful and thrilled to share with you that Paul has received his NEW HEART!!!!

The transplant went very well, much more smoothly than expected. He continues to make progress and we continue with prayers in our hearts that all will go well from here.

We are overwhelmed with joy for this gift and blessing. We recognize that this incredible blessing is a result of the love and prayers of so many. Paul continues with a breathing tube but has been periodically awake to communicate by writing.

Paul wanted me to share this statement with everyone. He writes "I am alive because of the medical team, this community, and my Savior who healed me." Once again, thank you for all your support, love, and prayers. We will periodically update this blog as things progress.

A dear friend of ours encouraged us to hang on to a simple truth and that has pulled us through to today. That truth is that "Miracles happen." All our love......

Facing the Future | A Family Portrait

I’m continually amazed and inspired by the kindness of so many people in our community. Acts of service are numberless and I feel overwhelmed.

One such act was a gift from artist Patricia Christensen.

Several months ago I told Patricia how much I loved her work. Within a month she called and said, “I’d love to paint your family.” Of course, we couldn’t turn such a priceless gift down.

We joined Patricia and her husband Ladd at Wheeler Farm in Midvale, Utah. They took several photos of our family and over the next several months Patricia worked her magic.

The other evening, Patricia and Ladd unveiled her painting, which now hangs in my hospital room. I knew parting with her piece of art was a sacrifice, like sending off your child to college. She spent months on every detail.

As I lay in my room staring at the painting, which captures our little family several months ago walking down a path, I’ve humbly and gratefully titled the piece “Facing the future.”

Thank you Patricia Christensen for your act of kindness!

View Patricia Christensen's Art Gallery

A Father's Love in a Dark Hour

Last night, as I lay awake in a dark hospital room, which has become my home, I remembered the many nights I would lie next to my daughter in her room as she drifted off to sleep.

As a toddler Eden didn’t like being alone at night and was afraid of having the lights off. Together, we read books and said prayers. I would turn out the light and continue lying in the room next to her. Slowly she would fade off peacefully knowing her dad was nearby.

There is a beautiful analogy with such a precious memory. For in my own darkest hours I know we have a kind and loving Father in Heaven close by and I’m not afraid. He’s there to help each of us feel calm so we might peacefully endure the dark periods.

(Photo: Giving a hug to my daughter Eden before she left me alone at the hospital)

A Thick Fog of Adversity

(Photo: August family portrait before coming into the hospital)

As I sit in my hospital room looking out my window I see smog hovering over the Salt Lake valley like a thick plague. Each year the wind brings a cloud of smoke from the summer fires. Although it looks miserable I know people are going on with their lives. Eventually, the rain will come, the smog will fade, and once more the valley is restored to its beauty.

Our lives are full of these moments when the thick fog of adversity surrounds us. Yet, somehow we adapt. We plow ahead and move forward with our lives as best we can. We choose how we are going to handle such a crisis. We have within each us the ability to transform our wounds into wisdom.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going,” said Winston Churchill. And from the brilliant Jazz pianist Duke Ellington, “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”

Most of us are in the midst of hard adversity right now. As one who is struggling each day to carry on, may I humbly assure you that God, our Heavenly Father, will send the rain so that each of us might recognize the beauty in our lives.

Finding Hope

As September 11th draws near, I want you to enjoy this beautiful short film recently produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is not in an effort to proselyte my church but to establish a perspective which has helped me and hundreds of other people during hard times. The principles in this true story are universally accepted among most denominations.

A Health Update & Hosptial Life

Hospital life has made it more difficult to come up with something wonderful to say. The truth is I am tired and anxiously hoping to get the show on the road.

After three weeks of living in the hospital doctors have continued feeding me with intravenous nutrition. In addition, I’m getting a steady stream of milrinone through IV.

I deeply and sincerely appreciate all of your prayers, thoughts, letters, emails, comments, and support. I’m overwhelmed by your love and care.

Throughout this past year your kindness has constantly reminded me of the words in St. Matthew 25:35-40, “For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me… Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethen, ye have done it unto me.” I am one of the very least of these and I am grateful for your adherence to follow Jesus.

I am having more fluid in my lungs and trouble breathing. As a result, I’m receiving more doses of lasix and an increase in oxygen requirements.

Since, I am more tired doctors have changed my visiting hours from 5-8pm. I deeply and sincerely appreciate your visits as well as the privacy you are showing our family at this time as we approach the final months of our dilemma.

The photo of me with the ICE Cream has a great story. My friend Josh Russell of Russell's Ice Cream which was sold to Farr's is manufacturing new flavors. Josh was coming to visit and asked what flavor I wanted. Of course, I said, "Bubble Gum" not knowing if they had bubble gum. Josh and his wife showed up with this half gallon of bubble gum, which his dad spent all day making especially for me. How cool is that? (Eden, Lynnette, and Me would go get Bubble Gum Ice Cream weekly this past year)